Prologue

Lucas Martin leaned back against his high-backed swivel seat, his fingers forming a steeple as he listened to the man seated across from him. To an outsider, he might have seemed distant, but in reality, his mind was razor-sharp, absorbing every word, calculating his next move. Occasionally, he would swivel towards the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, his gaze unfocused as he stared out at the sprawling city skyline. But he wasn’t admiring the view. His thoughts were elsewhere—on a past he hadn’t forgotten, on a betrayal that still burned.

Rubbing his jaw, he grimaced at the rough stubble—less than a day's growth, but enough to be a nuisance. He’d have to shave before meeting Stacy for dinner; otherwise, she’d nag him about his "Neanderthal look" again. The thought brought a slight smirk to his face. He could already picture her bright green eyes lighting up with amusement, her golden hair perfectly styled, her voice teasing yet affectionate.

She was, by all accounts, the ideal woman—poised, beautiful, and from a prestigious lineage. She fit perfectly into the image Lucas needed to maintain. A man in his position—a rising CEO of Molbourn Enterprises—needed the right kind of woman by his side. A polished, cultured partner who could complement his success. And Stacy was just that.

But tonight, he wasn’t just meeting Stacy. He was meeting her cousin—Evelyn Smith. The woman who had, five years ago, upended his carefully laid-out plans. The woman who had thought she was doing the right thing, never realizing the consequences of her actions.

Lucas had heard plenty about Evelyn from Stacy, enough to form a mental image. Heiress to the Smith Hotels empire, she was likely a pampered, self-absorbed princess who lived in a bubble of luxury. He half-expected her to either cancel at the last minute or, if she did show up, spend the evening discussing fashion and high society gossip. Unlike Stacy, she wouldn’t be the type to understand the workings of a corporate empire.

His fingers drummed against the polished surface of his mahogany desk, his expression darkening. Five years. Five years had passed since she had stepped into his life, making a decision that wasn’t hers to make, one that had cost him dearly. She had thought herself righteous, playing the role of protector, believing she had saved her cousin from a cold, loveless marriage. What she had truly done was strip Lucas of something that had been rightfully his.

His jaw clenched at the memory. He had moved on, built an empire, and secured his place among the elite. Yet, the bitterness of that past transgression still lingered. He had waited—patiently, methodically—until the perfect moment arrived. Until the pieces were aligned just so. And now, finally, he was ready.

The soft chime of his office phone broke his thoughts. Without glancing away from the window, he pressed the speaker button. "Yes?"

"Sir," came the crisp voice of his assistant, Liam Wilson, "the acquisition has been finalized. Smith Hotels is officially under your control."

Lucas exhaled slowly, his grip tightening around the edge of his desk. Satisfaction curled in his chest, but it was laced with something darker. Anticipation. The game had begun.

He reached for the thick folder on his desk, flipping through the pages, scanning the details he already knew by heart. The numbers, the contracts, the shareholders who had willingly—some eagerly—sold their stakes. Each move had been calculated with precision. And at the heart of it all stood Evelyn Smith, oblivious to the fact that her world was about to come crashing down around her.

Lucas’s lips twisted into a smirk. He wondered how she would react when she realized the ground beneath her feet had been ripped away. Would she fight? Resist? Or would she come crawling, begging for a way out?

Either way, she would learn.

This time, the power was in his hands.